Hunter Schrock (left) and Russ Johnson of Itawamba Community College weighed in a three-day total of 35 pounds, 9 ounces to take home the trophy Saturday during the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops held on Lake Martin out of Alexander City, Ala.
Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
Feb. 6, 2016
Itawamba Community College Team Overcomes Adversity To Win On Lake Martin
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ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — On Thursday, Russ Johnson and Hunter Schrock of Itawamba Community College locked the keys inside their truck and had to pry the door open with a tree limb after trying unsuccessfully to break their window with a tennis racket.
On Friday, they nearly lost a tire off their boat trailer due to a bad wheel bearing.
On Saturday, despite a week of troubles, they won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Martin.
Fishing in a borrowed boat, Johnson and Schrock caught five bass that weighed 14 pounds, 8 ounces and took home the first-place trophies with a three-day weight of 35-9. They finished just 4 ounces ahead of John Davis and Payton McGinnis of the University of Alabama (35-5).
“We saw the lake for the first time last Saturday,” Johnson said. “We fished Saturday, half a day on Sunday and then came back and fished the Wednesday before the tournament. We had about three days of practice, and that was it.”
But one crucial cast during that practice period turned them on to the winning strategy.
“We fish Aberdeen Lake on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway,” Johnson said. “It’s a real, shallow muddy place, and that’s why we decided to go out and try to find some largemouth here on Lake Martin. There were places that reminded us a lot of home.
“We caught a fish on about our 10th cast with a KVD 2.5 square bill crankbait Saturday, and that pretty much set the tone for the week. As soon as we caught the fish, we decided that was what we were going to go with.”
The plan seemed to work better as the week went along — even if their luck and equipment didn’t.
After the key-locking fiasco on the first day, they still managed to catch a five-bass limit that weighed 9-8. Then after seeing one of their trailer tires wobbling at a 45-degree angle the following day due to the bad wheel bearing, they managed 11-9 and made the final-day cut with 21-1.
They fished Saturday in a boat loaned to them by their Itawamba Community College teammates Ty Cox and Jake Houston. They caught 14-8 — easily the biggest catch of the day — by doing the same thing they had done all week.
“We just kept throwing that KVD 2.5 in the sexy shad pattern,” Schrock said. “We didn’t change anything all week. That was all we really knew to do.”
The tournament began with a giant field of 214 boats that weighed in the first two days at Wind Creek State Park. The field for Saturday’s round was trimmed to the Top 26, and a drive-through weigh-in was held at nearby Central Alabama Community College with a format similar to that of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Johnson and Schrock took the lead early during Saturday’s weigh-in, and it seemed for the longest time that they wouldn’t even be seriously challenged. But the Alabama team of Davis and McGinnis, who entered the final day with the lead, made for a few nervous moments for the front runners, as they were the last boat to weigh in.
Needing an even 10 pounds to overtake the Itawamba team, Davis and McGinnis weighed in 9-11 and missed the victory by 4 ounces with a three-day total of 35-5.
“For whatever reason, the big fish just didn’t bite today,” Davis said. “Where we caught largemouth yesterday, there were spotted bass today. Obviously, they were a lot smaller.”
The second-place finishers used Strike King KVD 1.5 square bills in a crawfish pattern all week.
“This time of year, that’s how you’re going to catch your big bags,” McGinnis said. “We looked for that big bag in practice. We never found it, but we knew that was the way to do it.”
All 26 teams that qualified for Saturday’s round are now eligible to fish the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, which will be held later this year on a lake to be determined.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional
Lake Martin – Wind Creek State Park – Alexander City, AL
2/4/2016 – 2/6/2016
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 3
Today’s Activity
# Fish Lbs – Oz
Accumulative
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Russ Johnson – Hunter Schrock Itawamba Community College 5 5 14- 8 15 15 35- 9
2 John Davis – Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 5 5 9-11 15 15 35- 5
3 KJ Queen – Evan Owrey Bethel University 5 5 11- 9 15 15 34- 5
4 Thomas Oltorik III – James Oltorik Daytona State College 5 5 11-10 14 14 33- 2
5 Anderson Aldag – Lee Mattox University of Alabama 5 5 10-10 15 15 32- 6
6 Josh Oliver – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 5 5 9- 8 15 15 31-12
7 Ben Stone – Collin Smith Lander University 5 5 11- 6 15 15 31- 8
8 Shawn Callahan – Tom Brewbaker University of South Carolina 5 5 10- 6 15 15 31- 3
9 Tanner Malone – Kyle Alford Mississippi State University 5 5 8-14 15 15 30-15
10 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 5 5 9- 6 15 15 30-14
11 Cole Burdeshaw – Travis Culbreth Auburn University 5 5 7- 8 15 15 30-10
12 Hunter McKamey – Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 5 5 8- 6 15 15 30- 5
13 Michael Chambliss – Gregory Carlisle Columbus State University 5 5 9- 2 15 15 30-2
14 Ryan Hayse – Jake Staley U. of North Alabama 5 5 6- 6 15 15 29-14
15 Luis McMurphy – MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 4 4 5- 3 14 14 29- 7
16 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Faulkner University 5 5 8-15 15 15 29- 6
17 JC Adams – Darius Williams University of West Georgia 5 5 8- 5 14 14 29- 5
18 Brandon Koon – Kenneth Parks UT Martin 5 5 9- 4 15 15 29- 4
19 Austin Handley – Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 5 5 7-10 15 15 29- 2
20 Justin Singleton – Ryan Stewart Georgia College 5 5 7-14 15 15 28- 2
21 Chayse Freeman – Ryan Shields Wallace State Comm College 4 4 6- 2 14 14 27- 4
22 Jesse Hill -Cody Whisenhunt Jefferson State Community College 5 5 6- 7 15 15 27-3
23 Chad Matthews – Austin Wingard Auburn University 5 5 6-15 15 15 27- 1
24 Dylan Brown – Hunter Franklin U. of South Alabama 3 3 4-13 13 13 26- 3
25 Shane Haas – Reid Hammil University of Florida 4 4 3-15 14 14 25-12
26 Levi Baker – Bayne Miller U. of North Georgia 3 3 4- 0 13 13 24- 5
27 Tyler Collins – Bradley Rilling Kennesaw State University 10 10 19-13
28 Joseph Lacy – Breanna Wyatt Faulkner University 10 10 19-11
29 AJ Simmons – Bradley DeLeon Auburn University 10 10 19-11
30 Cody Peak – Jeff Roman Clayton IV Mississippi State University 10 10 19- 7
31 Jacob Reome – Daniel Rupee Clemson University 10 10 19- 6
32 Nathan Martin – Davis Whitten U. of North Alabama 10 10 19- 5
33 Kyler Chelminiak – Alec Piekarski Bethel University 10 10 19- 3
34 Brian Sweeney – Robert White University of South Carolina 10 10 19- 2
35 CJ Holbrook – Caleb Garvin Mississippi State University 10 10 19- 2
36 Connor Champman – Heath Alread Kennesaw State University 10 10 19- 1
37 Patrick Walters – Hampton Anderson University of South Carolina 10 10 19- 0
38 Houston Calvert – Gavin Hays Wallace State Comm College 10 9 18-15
39 Ty Dyer – Ricky Harris Bethel University 10 10 18-14
40 Logan Shaddix – Ethan Flack University of Alabama 10 10 18-13
41 Tyler Moody – Kevin McIntyre UAB 10 10 18-11
42 Conner Fogg – Chandler Fogg Bryan College 10 10 18- 8
43 Matthew Mullins – Bailey Stover University of West Georgia 9 9 18- 8
44 Mitch Brumbeloe – David Robinson University of West Alabama 10 10 18- 7
45 Andrew Himmelreich – Justin Henderson Young Harris College 10 10 18- 5
46 Ty Cox – Jake Houston Itawamba Community College 10 10 18- 3
47 Evan Horne – Dawson Lenz U. of North Alabama 10 10 18- 3
48 David Gaston – Brandon Barnett Central Alabama Comm College 10 10 18- 1
49 Michael Elkins – Luke Mason U. of North Alabama 10 10 18- 1
50 Triston Crowder – Lake Blasingame U. of North Alabama 10 10 18- 0
51 John Garrett – Brian Pahl Bethel University 10 10 18- 0
52 Tyler Brown – Zac Rita Clemson University 10 9 18- 0
53 Luke Ferguson – Jerod Gadd Polk State College 9 9 17-14
54 Reid Daniel – Ben Adams U. of North Georgia 10 10 17-13
55 Wyatt Burkhalter – Mark Grant University of West Alabama 10 10 17-12
56 Colin Drew – James Addison Clemson University 10 10 17-11
57 Patrick Williford – Briggs Kennington Clemson University 10 10 17-11
58 Chancellor Rich – Hunter Presley Central Alabama Comm College 10 10 17-11
59 Daniel Murkerson – Joshua McQueen UAB 10 10 17- 8
60 Trey O’Daniel – Ben Wall Auburn University 9 9 17- 8
61 Jesse James – Nolan Vinson Troy University 10 10 17- 8
62 Cody McBryar – Chance Johnson Jacksonville State University 10 10 17- 7
63 Baylor Ronemus – Teddy Chewning Clemson University 10 10 17- 6
64 Andrew Warbington – Taylor Teague University of West Alabama 10 10 17- 6
65 Ty Johnston – Evan Gaddis U. of North Georgia 10 10 17- 5
66 Alex Peric – Matt Tessar University of Alabama 10 10 17- 5
67 Denver Satterlee – Jonathan Tilley JC Calhoun Community College 10 10 17- 3
68 Martin McCravy – Koby Littrell U. of North Alabama 10 10 17- 0
69 Murphy Klumpp – Auburn University 8 8 16-15
70 Ethan Thomas – Stephen Ansel Georgia College 10 10 16-14
71 Kolby Bowers – Benjamin Chandler Abraham Baldwin Ag College 10 10 16-14
72 Wesley Griner – Corey Brown Darton State College 10 10 16-13
73 Grant Bergeron – Tim Parker University of Florida 9 9 16-13
74 Cody Cleary – Max Gresham Valdosta State University 10 10 16- 9
75 Isaac Nesbitt – Ross Burns Clemson University 10 10 16- 8
76 Robert Hewitt – Allan Stack Clemson University 10 10 16- 4
77 Michael Blake – Morgan Fuller Central Alabama Comm College 8 8 16- 3
78 Scott Cain – Tyler Teal UAB 10 10 16- 3
79 Caleb Dennis – Sloan Pennington U. of North Alabama 10 10 15-14
80 Chris Blanchette – Lucas Cornwell University of South Carolina 9 9 15-12
81 Zac Bennett – Chase Williams Georgia College 10 10 15-12
82 Brooks Phillips – CJ Knight Auburn University 10 10 15-11
83 Kenny Johnson – Brandon Black University of West Georgia 10 10 15-10
84 Dalton Bradford – Matthew Lamastus UT Martin 10 10 15-10
85 Dylan True – Dylan Fuller UT Martin 10 10 15-10
86 Mitchell Jennings – Legare Wheeler Auburn University 10 10 15- 9
87 Makenzie Henson – Brett Webster U. of North Alabama 10 10 15- 9
88 Dylan Kear – Nathan Bell Bryan College 10 10 15- 8
89 Kendall Pierce – Daniel Sims UAB 8 8 15- 5
90 Brooks Bishop – Caleb Hebert Mississippi State University 8 8 15- 5
91 Hunter Louden – Carter McNeil Bethel University 10 10 15- 5
92 AJ Etheredge – Colton Granger Troy University 10 10 15- 5
93 Stephen Young – Zach Hitt Reinhardt University 10 10 15- 4
94 Kendall Andrews – Taylor Oliver Auburn University 10 10 15- 4
95 Will Miller – Ethan Ingle University of South Carolina 10 10 15- 3
96 David Heflin – Logan Elton Florida State University 10 10 15- 3
97 Chase Kanute – Connor Thompson Bryan College 10 10 15- 3
97 Garrett Stone – Daulton Smith University of Georgia 10 10 15- 3
99 Chase Roberts – Jeffrey Hopkins Auburn University 10 10 15- 1
100 Blake McDaniel – Chet Reaves Auburn University 10 10 15- 1
101 Andrew Cannon – Daniel Leiner U. of North Alabama 10 10 15- 0
102 Cody Harrison – Clint Frederick U. of North Alabama 10 10 15- 0
102 Cale Mathis – Jonathan McLendon Abraham Baldwin Ag College 10 10 15- 0
104 Austin Herring – Kel Easterling University of Montevallo 10 10 14-15
105 John Duarte – Jonathan Kelley Coastal Carolina University 10 10 14-14
106 JR Wright – Bridger Thomas Itawamba Community College 10 10 14-13
107 Roy Zhang – Cassidy Evans Auburn University 10 10 14-12
108 Ethan Hayes – Lauren Remolde Auburn University 10 10 14-10
109 Zane Xanders – Jacob Lane Florida Gulf Coast University 10 10 14-10
110 Adam Neill – John Bryant University of Alabama 10 10 14- 9
111 Caleb Luzader – Cole Sands Bryan College 10 10 14- 9
112 Drake Champion – Colton Turner Jacksonville State University 10 10 14- 8
113 Michael Mitchell – Matt Haney Jacksonville State University 10 10 14- 6
114 Armando Ortiz – Zach Buchanan Auburn University 10 10 14- 5
115 Nick Gresens – Robert Keene Georgia College 10 10 14- 4
116 Jake Farrer – Levi Neave Clemson University 9 9 14- 4
117 Ethan Barrett – Harrison Barton Young Harris College 10 10 14- 3
118 Cole Nunnery – Logan Morel Southwest Mississippi Comm College 9 9 14- 2
119 Cody Chambers – Blake Milner U. of North Georgia 9 9 14- 0
120 Mekiah Jack – Joseph Huggins Bethel University 8 8 13-14
121 Joshua Butts – Wallace State Comm College 10 10 13-14
122 Taylor Thompson – Blake Yarbrough Abraham Baldwin Ag College 9 9 13-10
123 Matthew Maynard – Will Henderson Auburn University 8 8 13- 9
124 Hunter Waller – Blake Ridgdill Abraham Baldwin Ag College 10 10 13- 9
125 Trent Humber – Joey Porter University of West Alabama 10 10 13- 7
126 Kyle Stafford – Matt Bedenbaugh Polk State College 10 9 13- 6
127 Ryan Kennedy – Charles Conger Kennesaw State University 10 10 13- 4
128 Drew Cook – Mason Brown Florida State University 10 10 13- 2
129 TJ Neely – Abraham Baldwin Ag College 9 9 13- 0
130 Tyler Mann – Dustin DeVon Faulkner State Community College 10 10 13- 0
131 Andrew Tate – Hunter Haney U. of North Alabama 9 9 12-14
132 DJ Barber – Thomas Mistead University of Alabama 10 10 12-11
133 Chase Baker – Ryan Baker University of Montevallo 9 9 12- 7
134 Brandon Bland – Biilly Knapp U. of South Alabama 9 9 12- 2
135 Richie Young – Emmanuel College 8 8 12- 2
136 Zachary Edmunds – Nelson Madruga U. of Central Florida 10 10 12- 1
137 Blake Burtram – Hunter McCarty U. of North Alabama 7 7 11-14
138 Joe Nakai – Michael Gullette U. of North Alabama 10 10 11-12
139 Gobind Kala – Tate West University of Alabama 8 8 11-11
140 Leslie Dunstan – Sean Murphy Auburn University 10 10 11-11
141 Edward Garner – Faulkner State Community College 8 8 11-11
142 Myles Bowen – Mason Bond Georgia College 8 8 11-10
143 Hank McIntosh – Hunter Brock Troy University 7 7 11- 9
144 Andrew Brown – Ryan Ferraro Mississippi State 10 10 11- 9
145 Collin Settnek – Stetson University 10 10 11- 8
146 Jonathan Peck – Tyler Chumley Bryan College 7 7 11- 8
147 Jordan Heath – Noah Barcroft Auburn University 8 8 11- 6
148 Brady Bowden – Landon Olson Faulkner University 9 9 11- 6
149 Austin Bell – Trever Stephens Polk State College 10 10 11- 6
150 Grant Carter – John Price Columbus State University 9 9 11- 3
151 Andrew Hulbert – University of Mississippi 7 7 10-14
152 John Maner – Colby Harville U. of North Alabama 9 9 10-11
153 Gunnar McCollough – John Defore Troy University 5 5 10-11
154 Frank Lillig – Jackson Moody Kennesaw State University 9 9 10-10
155 AJ Barnes – Robert Gibson Bryan College 6 6 10- 9
156 Drew Grow – Mitch Naler University of Alabama 7 7 10- 5
157 Taylor Minick – Ralph Collings Southern Regional Technical College 9 9 10- 4
158 William Blount – Kirk Savage U. of South Alabama 7 7 10- 4
159 Chasten Beck – Bronson Jones Snead State Community College 9 9 10- 3
160 Hooper Matthews – Tristan Yates Auburn University 6 6 10- 2
161 Jordan Parisian – Collin Chandler University of Georgia 7 7 10- 1
162 Hunter Reeves – Tucker Hill Georgia Southern University 6 6 10- 0
163 Laj Tripp – Morgan Locke Florida State University 7 7 10- 0
164 Andrew Smedley – Charles Farr Mississippi College 7 7 9-14
165 Bennett Brantley – Dustin Watson Huntingdon College 7 7 9-11
166 BJ Johnson – Justin Jones Troy University 8 8 9- 8
167 Cody Billings – Christian Pierson University of Georgia 8 8 9- 7
168 Dylan Pritchett – Jalen Smith Bryan College 7 7 9- 6
169 Holden McBride – Dalton Jennings Central Alabama Comm College 5 5 9- 5
170 Andrew Kiser – Charles Kelly Clemson University 5 5 9- 1
171 Brandon Acker – Garrett Calhoun Faulkner University 5 5 8- 5
172 Hunter Bland – Matthew Cantrell University of Florida 6 6 8- 4
173 Mark Denney – Wesley Paskett Middle George State University 7 7 8- 1
174 Layton Jones – Jared Baker Georgia Southern University 7 7 8- 0
175 Dillon Easley – Chandler South Itawamba Community College 6 6 7-14
176 William Duffey – Stewart Ward Central Alabama Comm College 4 4 7- 4
177 Jacob Pannell – Chase Robinson Itawamba Community College 5 5 7- 2
178 Caleb Whitehead – John Ford Mississippi State University 3 3 6-13
179 Sawyer Haney – Michael Warner Northeast Alabama Community College 4 4 6- 4
180 Kendal Bracknell – Matthew Colbert University of West Georgia 5 5 6- 2
181 Jonathan Poore – Colby Jones UT Martin 6 6 6- 1
182 John Byrd – Braden Mattingly Stetson University 5 5 5-11
183 Scott Nichols – Corey Kelton Southwest Mississippi Comm College 4 4 5-10
184 Joe Bates – Jay Tootle Georgia Southern University 4 4 5- 3
185 Hunter Bechtel – Joseph Caldwell Abraham Baldwin Ag College 5 5 5- 2
186 Ben Spiller – Blake Smith Mississippi State University 5 5 5- 1
187 Forrest Sears – Greg Dean Wallace State Comm College 5 5 5- 0
188 Tyler Howard – Jeffrey Mills University of Montevallo 4 4 5- 0
189 Kyle Jackson – Willem Hattink Georgia Southern University 3 3 4-12
189 Ryan Schroeder – Austin Tubbs University of West Alabama 3 3 4-12
191 David Carney – Patton Carney University of Alabama 2 2 4-12
192 TJ Sroufe – Tom Patten U. South FL Sarasota 4 4 4-11
193 Kyle Dillard – Chase Christie University of West Georgia 5 5 4- 1
194 Landon Jackson – Kaylyn McDaniel Troy University 3 3 4- 1
195 Heath Mitchell – Cooper Patton U. of North Georgia 3 3 3-15
196 John Ramer – William Steele Faulkner State Community College 1 1 3-13
197 Dylan DeForrest – Hunter Taylor Florida Gulf Coast University 1 1 3- 3
198 Justin Paulus – Christian Cole Kennesaw State University 2 2 3- 0
199 KD Sizemore – Stuart Stanford Darton State College 2 2 2-15
200 John Campbell – Dalton Adair Troy University 2 2 2- 9
201 Dakota Garner – Cale Underwood Northeast Alabama Community College 1 1 2- 7
202 Jeremy Ray – Auburn University 2 2 2- 1
203 Tucker Adams – Justin Reynolds Southwest Mississippi Comm College 1 1 1-10
204 Andrew Fisher – Addison Wells Jacksonville State University 1 1 1- 4
205 Blake Spradlin – Channing Brand LaGrange College 1 1 1- 2
206 William Ireland – Dylan McKee Auburn University 1 1 1- 1
207 Jonathan Twilley – Jacksonville State University 1 1 0-15
208 Max Korfhage – Kevin Szczech University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0
208 Brett McDowell – Joshua Griner Southern Regional Technical College 0 0 0- 0
208 Dean Mullett – Cole Watson Georgia Southern University 0 0 0- 0
208 Dylan Pugh – Zachary Lineberry Troy University 0 0 0- 0
208 John Thigpin – Costa Kell University of Mississippi 0 0 0- 0
208 Benjamin Webster – Andrew Deloney University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0
208 Joe Williams – Addison Cimino Auburn University 0 0 0- 0
Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 JC Adams – Darius Williams Carrollton, GA 5- 4
2 John Davis – Payton McGinnisVestavia, AL 6-12
3 Russ Johnson – Hunter Schrock Amory, MS 5- 8
# Fish Lbs – Oz
BIG BASS
TOTALS
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
# Fish
1 890 888 1463- 9 152
2 832 831 1407- 2 140
3 123 123 218- 5 21
Montgomery said he began his day fishing banks in clear water in an area on the south end of the lake. He said he used a black and blue Strike King Rage Blade Swim Jig rigged with a black and blue Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper.
ngler of the Year race. “I was one of the lucky ones who pulled into an area that had a lot of big females coming in to spawn. Even today, after four days of fishing, it was obvious that they were still there.”
In second place is 
